Chapter 55: The Third One
Chapter 55: The Third One
The moment the thought popped into her head, it became impossible to control.
Qiao Sang immediately pulled out her phone and searched for the list of participants for the next Interstellar Cup match.
Pasol vs. Chen Mo.
Every match in the Interstellar Cup was a 6v6 mode.
Ninety-nine percent of the Beastmasters who could participate in the Interstellar Cup were S-Class Beastmasters with seven familiars, so the lineup for each match was always a mystery.
Among the seven familiars, one was always left out.
This added a significant challenge for the spectators who tried to analyze the lineups and attributes before placing their bets.
Qiao Sang didn't have such worries.
She simply searched for the posters of Pasol and Chen Mo with their respective familiars and placed them in front of Fangflare.
"Who do you think is stronger and will win?"
Fangflare scrutinized the posters carefully.
This morning, the Puffbird it thought would win lost, and the Big Bird it pointed to just lost as well. It was rare for its Beastmaster to trust it enough to ask for its opinion.
This time, it wouldn't let its Beastmaster down and would prove its worth!
"Ya!"
After a long study, Fangflare pointed to the more robust Pasol and let out a cry.
Qiao Sang nodded and then logged into the Star Battle Betting Network to place a 1000 Union Coin bet on Chen Mo.
...
July 2nd.
The screen above the arena was displaying the photos of the participants for the Newcomer Competition's 64 to 32 round.
In the middle of Row 9, Zone C.
"Rare to see you let out your Gold-Sprinkled Vine", Qiao Sang said, surprised.
She had run into Bai Yunmiao a few times.
Each time, he was alone, and after yesterday's match, he immediately put his Gold-Sprinkled Vine back.
"Didn't I get interviewed yesterday? When I got home and watched the video, my little Jin saw it and said I shouldn't leave it behind. It kept pestering me to bring it out today to get interviewed too", Bai Yunmiao explained, sounding helpless.
Qiao Sang glanced at the Gold-Sprinkled Vine.
Its solitary vine tendril on its head was now tied with a pink bow, clearly ready for the interview...
"Don't talk about me. What's up with your Fangflare? It looks so expressionless, did you upset it?" Bai Yunmiao leaned in and whispered.
The reputation of the Fire Pet Beast was still strong among the new Beastmasters.
Even though Fangflare usually looked gentle, any slight sign of displeasure still made Bai Yunmiao uneasy.
"No, it's because of what you said about its funny expressions yesterday", Qiao Sang explained. "After it watched the video of its match, it realized how important expression management is, so it's come here with a poker face. It'll be back to normal after the match."
"Ya."
Fangflare nodded coolly.
"Awesome!" Bai Yunmiao exclaimed.
Fangflare suppressed a smile and lifted its head 45 degrees.
Qiao Sang: "..."
After the first match began, Qiao Sang looked around and asked, "Why are there so few people today?"
"Did you watch Yan Shen's match yesterday?" Bai Yunmiao countered without answering directly.
"I only saw the last one", Qiao Sang replied.
"Yan Shen lost, didn't he? He made it to the top 10 in the last two Interstellar Cups, but this time he didn't even make the cut. I guess most people couldn't accept it and lost interest", Bai Yunmiao explained.
Qiao Sang understood.
As the only participant from the Dragon Nation on Blue Star, Lin Ya carried everyone's hopes. The disappointment of his loss was surely more severe than the men's national football team failing to make it to the World Cup.
Let's not talk about other things. Just in terms of emotions, the people of that time had little hope for the men's football team, and they were heartbroken and frustrated whenever they lost, regretting that the team couldn't rise to the occasion.
Now, however, the people of Dragon Nation are placing high hopes on Lin Ya.
...
"Competitor Guo Yiqi easily won his last match, but this one has him in a bind", the middle-aged commentator's slightly hoarse voice droned on, devoid of emotion.
His demeanor today was a world apart from yesterday's.
In the audience stands, parents who had come to watch their children's matches were chatting.
"How much did you lose yesterday?"
"20,000, how about you?"
"100,000."
"Are you still in the mood to watch the match today?"
"My state isn't great, and I'm afraid my wife will find out if I stay at home."
The person asking glanced at his bloodshot eyes and nodded in understanding.
"Losing 20,000 isn't a small amount. Does your wife know?"
"Hehe, she lost 150,000 last night and cried all evening."
"..."
"Let's not talk about that. Which match is your child in?"
"Son, which group are you in?" the man with bloodshot eyes turned to his child and asked.
"Dad, I've already finished my match and came back."
"..."
The atmosphere of today's match was a bit somber.
Neither the audience nor the commentator showed much enthusiasm, but Qiao Sang continued to document and record as usual.
Of the 21 Beastmasters on her memo, only 17 remained after yesterday's matches.
Qiao Sang crossed out the names of the eliminated competitors one by one. Just as she was about to be up, another name was crossed out.
The Newcomer Competition didn't treat these competitors with intermediate familiars as seeded players, saving them for the end. Instead, the order was randomly shuffled, inevitably leading to two competitors with intermediate familiars facing each other early on.
In the eleventh match, Qiao Sang took the field.
Her opponent was Jin Chengxu, one of the remaining competitors on her memo.
"Your Fangflare is quite strong."
"But you're unlucky to face me. I won't be like Xie Jianyin, who sent out a newly bonded familiar."
"Don't worry, I won't make you lose too badly."
Qiao Sang remained silent.
"Is there nothing you want to say to me?" Jin Chengxu couldn't help but ask.
"Then, thank you", Qiao Sang replied.
She wasn't thanking him for not making her lose too badly, but for sending out his first bonded familiar.
Finally, the tactics she had studied for so long would come into play!
Jin Chengxu, on the other hand, felt a bit embarrassed.
He hadn't expected such polite behavior after all his provocation.
Maybe he should let her have a bit of an advantage...
In the next moment, Jin Chengxu summoned his familiar, the Desert-Tail Fox.
As the referee gave the command, Fangflare split into two and charged forward.
"Sandstorm!"
Jin Chengxu was momentarily flustered when he saw Qiao Sang's Fangflare initiate the attack without a command.
Qiao Sang smiled.
She had been waiting for this Sandstorm.
The two indistinguishable Fangflares charged straight into the sandstorm.
Jin Chengxu was taken aback. Who would voluntarily enter an opponent's skill area?
While the Sandstorm couldn't inflict decisive damage, the dust getting into Fangflare's nose and fur would definitely weaken its condition.
This was the perfect opportunity to press the advantage!
For a moment, Jin Chengxu forgot his earlier decision to let her have an advantage.
"Use Sandstorm!"
"Moh."
The Desert-Tail Fox let out a call, its tail glowing with a sandy light.
The dusty arena instantly swirled into a Sandstorm, collapsing inward.
Two red figures struggled in the dust.
At that moment, a third Fangflare suddenly appeared behind the Desert-Tail Fox.
Jin Chengxu "!!"
What the hell! Where did this one come from!
(End of Chapter)
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